Planning out your wedding day morning? Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with the ultimate guide to getting ready on your wedding day. From who should join you in your bridal suite to what bring so you’re the most prepared – keep on reading for our top tips!
For the best photos, choose a bridal suite with large windows, tons of space, and clean/neutral décor. For more of an in depth guide on choosing the right space, find my guide here. Do be sure that your room can fit you, your family, and bridesmaids who will need hair and makeup. Too tight of a space creates stress that you won’t want that morning!
Want a calm morning? Have a relaxing playlist at hand. Want more of an early party vibe? Throw on some top 40. Know your group and what music will provide your ideal getting ready experience! Bring or have someone bring a Bluetooth speaker for best results.
Hair and makeup for your entire bridal party could take up to 4-6 hours (or more if you have a large group). You are definitely going to need to eat during that time. It is NOT a good idea to skip food before your ceremony as passing out down the aisle is the last thing you want. Bring healthy snacks or if you’re in a hotel, order room service with high protein foods (no carb comas, please!).
Unless you’re worried your group will become too rowdy before it’s time for photos, stock the room with ingredients for mimosas or just have champagne or rosé. A mimosa or two over a few hours of getting ready, while remembering to snack, will help you relax and enjoy the morning.
Have your most trusted bridesmaid be your timekeeper. They should know the wedding day timeline inside and out so they can keep everyone on time. You don’t want to lose out on portrait time because you all lost track of time, so make sure someone is keeping up with what time everyone needs to leave the room for photos.
Even if you don’t want tons of photos of your makeup and hair behind the scenes, photographers usually need to be present during getting ready to photograph at least your wedding details (invites, rings, etc.) This is their warm up time and a time for your bridesmaids to loosen up around the camera before portraits.
Once everyone’s hair and makeup are complete, have your photographer take a cute set of photos of you and your bridesmaids in your robes. These robe shots are so fun and a great way to kick off your official photos!
Photography: Cavin Elizabeth Photography